Dodger from Catalina?

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Wally-1840
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Dodger from Catalina?

Hi all;
My boat is getting to the point, (11 yrs), that the original canvas should be replaced. I really like the factory dodger. Has anyone purchased a replacement from Catalina? I've heard that in the past they would not sell replacements to aftermarket; true? If they will, was it difficult to deal with them?
Thanks!!

Wally
"Onanne"
2000 MKII, deep keel, tall rig
​Lake Champlain
 

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jsc4484
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Posts: 138

Well I dont know if Catalina sells them, but I just replaced my DODGER this month,
Well almost it is waiting to be installed by the canvas guy once it stops F******G raining, which has not stopped for 2 weeks.
Thhis is what I got Strata 90 glass for windows new sunbrella fabric 'some "kind of thread that will outlast sunbrella (BEATS ME) and SS 1" tensioning bars., and the side curtains were also replaced.

What I did not replace is the SS frame

Now I shopped it out with 4 canvas guys best cost $1897.00

Hope that helps

FAIR WINDS & FOLLOWING SEAS

Jeff Costa

S/V KAIROS Hull #0235

BudStreet
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The best thread is Tenara. Also the most expensive. So you will like that Jeff. My talented wife just replaced our whole dodger and bimini and tied it in to the existing enclosure. Cost us about $600 for the material. It was a whole winter project and a lot of work and stress.

stu jackson c34's picture
stu jackson c34
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Issues include fitting the factory dodger to your existing frame and making sure you get the side handrails. In our review of the C375 when it came out a few years ago, we noticed that there were no side handrails. The salesman said, "Oh, that's for offshore work." Nonsense. It's a basic safety issue and every boat with a dodger should have them. I have a copy of a Good Old Boat article from many years ago which explains how to retrofit them yourself. I've emailed it to one or two skippers on this board, would be glad to do so again.

Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)

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Rockman
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Posts: 237

Just had an aftermarket dodger fitted to my 375. I got external hand rails on the sides of the dodger and a full width handhold in the cockpit (will take some pictures on the weekend).

I am also have the top safety line replaced with stainless tube, so that when you step out of the cockpit there will be handholds on both sides. The admiral has to feel safe:)

Cat375 - Rock The Boat - Hull 54
Lake Macquarie - NSW - Australia

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deising
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When we had our bimini/dodger (one piece with three zippered dodger panels) replaced a few years ago, we had side handrails added and we wonder how we ever did without them.

To be candid, the athwartship stiffness of the frame assembly is a little lacking, but it is strong and stiff enough to give you decent support on that portion of the sidedeck.

Duane Ising - Past Commodore (2011-2012)
s/v Diva Di
1999 Catalina 36 Hull #1777
Std rig; wing keel, M35B, Delta (45#)
Punta Gorda, FL
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/diva-di/

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plaineolde
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[QUOTE=stu jackson c34;8735]Issues include fitting the factory dodger to your existing frame and making sure you get the side handrails. In our review of the C375 when it came out a few years ago, we noticed that there were no side handrails. The salesman said, "Oh, that's for offshore work." Nonsense. It's a basic safety issue and every boat with a dodger should have them. I have a copy of a Good Old Boat article from many years ago which explains how to retrofit them yourself. I've emailed it to one or two skippers on this board, would be glad to do so again.[/QUOTE]

If that article is still available, could you please forward the link to me?

Thanks...!!!

Gary and Cathy Price
1997 C36 Mk II Tall Rig/Wing Keel Imagine...
Hull # 1617
Worton Creek, Md.
Northern Chesapeake Bay

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TomSoko
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Posts: 978

Gary,
It's not that hard to do. I've done in on the past two boats I've onwed. Go into the Upgrades Section, and find the link to my upgrades to Julandra. Pictures 7I and 7J show the outside and inside details of the handrail. You can either buy the handrails (24"), or if you want longer ones, Garhauer can easily make them for you. The jaw that attaches to the bows are similar to this:
[URL]http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|7504|309310|296535&id=322297[/URL]
with the threads drilled out. The 1/4-20 studs on the ends of the rails fit thru the holes in the jaw. Hope this helps.

Tom Sokoloski
C36/375IA Past Commodore
Noank, CT

Steve Frost's picture
Steve Frost
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Went to the boat last weedend, fleet week, Blue Angels flying over the bay, good show but, the crowd makes it a zoo. Good weekend for boat projects and staying at the slip.

I intended to scrub, bleach and clean my Dodger and then do my annual treatment with fabric gard/water repelent. After scubbing I noted the dodger Sunbrella material is holding up quite well after five years, still tight as a drum though the stitching is missing at many seams. John who ran Pacific Coast Canvas and made my dodger has sold his business and is ready to take off to the south pacific on his boat three slips away, he suggested a couple of hours of restitching on the table should buy me four or five more years. The windows look like the day they were installed. I decided to remove the dodger and get it to the shop for a restitch. I recall a month or so back noting that though the canvas looked great, one day when looking up from down below I noted the weave looked more open than I rememberd. The water proof treatment will help with that I susspect but, the fabric does have a finite life. The top obviously gets the bulk of the deterioration due to its exposure to the sun. Before I commit to the restitch I though I would ask if anyone has had experience with the Wave Stopper fiberglass top. It could be an option to repairing the top of my dodger.

I even wondered if I could use the existing top, lay glass cloth and resin right on the existing fabric to make my own hardtop. HOW HARD COULD IT BE!

Any input on the Wave Stopper would be appreciated. Notes of discouragement on my hairbrained/fiberglass idea will be accepted.

Cepheus dream
C36 MK I # 825
MK I Tech Editor No Mas

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mutualfun
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Posts: 454

Steve.
I am glad someone else is pondering the idea of laying glass over ther current fabric. It would at least give you the shape to start with. To me that would be the hardest part. I think I would test a small area first to make sure it does not melt the sunbrella. I was thinking of bringing home the frame next summer and trying it.

Randy Sherwood
Mutualfun 1990 # 1057
T/R W/K M35a
Home. Charlotte, Mi.
Boat. St Augustine,Fl.

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stu jackson c34
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Steve, I looked into the Wavestopper when we redid our dodger a few years ago and found it prohibitively expensive (at least for us:)).

Here's what one of our guys did. It includes the "adding side rails" article for anyone who needs it, in addition to Tom's link to his work. [url]http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,4760.0.html[/url] There's a link in Reply #14 for more.

I think putting the weight of fiberglass onto the top of a canvas dodger would induce significant "droop" in the finished product and unless you can find a way to support the width it would be tough to do.

Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)

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dejavu
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[QUOTE=Steve Frost;10330]Notes of discouragement on my hairbrained/fiberglass idea will be accepted.[/QUOTE]

I offer you my full moral support provided you promise to post photos no matter how it turns out. :D

Mike

Deja Vu
1991 MK I # 1106
Marina del Rey, CA

Steve Frost's picture
Steve Frost
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Posts: 788

Just received a call from Eric atPacific Crest Canvas, they had picked up my dodger and called me to say they had finished restitching all the panels and replacing one zipper. They agreed the canvas looks to have several more years left in it and the windows are like new. The charge $140, well worth the investement if I do not destroy it reinstalling it on the frame, Eric gave me some tips on this.

I guess I will hold out on trying the fiberglass overlay on the top, until next time the dodger starts looking a little dodgey.

Cepheus dream
C36 MK I # 825
MK I Tech Editor No Mas

neilroach
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Posts: 126

If you want to do a glass lay up over an existing shape but want to get rid of the "form" or may just want to,
then there is an easy and cheep mold release
The plastic that your drycleaning comes home from the cleaners in is a great mold release for vinyl ester resin which is also very easy to work with.
Stretch the plastic tight and tape with clear packing tape (also a great mold release and do the lay up.
If it was me I would remove the dodger and frame and do the whole thing in a graage or shop. You want no movement during the cure and I think that after a few layers of glass, maybe six or so, then I would bond on quarter inch foam and fill and sand to a smoothe shape and then add amybe six more layers. More layers on both sides at attach points.
Look online at the "Aircraft Spruce and Suply" catalog for all these supplies. You don' necessarily need to buy them there but all kinds of shapes and sizes of things are made in the "homebuilt" aircraft world.
At the end of the day, buy small amounts of materials and practice to refine your method.

Neil Roach
"Crewless"
1992 36, Mark I
Hull # 1174
Seattle

Steve Frost's picture
Steve Frost
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Neal,

We are on the same wave length but, my thought was to allow the resin penatrate the Sunbrella fabric as well not just using as it as a mold but actually using it as part of the structure. I would not do the sides just the top with the zippers still securing it to the frame and the front and side panels would zip onto the top. Your lay up suggestion was exactly my thought as my top is drum tight and I am sure it would not distort with a couple layers of cloth and resin. The top sees the worst of the environment baking in the sun and more likely to see standing water as it runs off the side and front panels pretty quickly and these panels on mine are mostly Isenglass.

As for Aircraft Spruce as a supplier I am quite aware of them as I use them as a vendor in my business. The West Syestems products for fiberglass supplies we have found to be superior and ca be purchased through West Marine or Tap Plastics.

Cepheus dream
C36 MK I # 825
MK I Tech Editor No Mas

neilroach
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I would be interested to hear whether the resin will actually penetrate the fabric, after all Sunbrella is ment to repel water and other liquids. Worth a try, I guess.

Neil Roach
"Crewless"
1992 36, Mark I
Hull # 1174
Seattle

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manonash
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Posts: 68

We just bought a '96 c36 mkII and are in the market for a dodger as well (full enclosure, actually...)

I've owned a number of boats (and dodgers) over the years, but it wasn't until I moved to the Puget Sound recently that I came into contact with Jason Iverson [url]http://www.iversonsdesign.com/[/url] His work (and team) is second to none...

We had an Iverson on our Hans Christian and it is bullet proof. (I weigh 280 and can swing down the companionway, grabbing the aft rail like a monkey). They are welded in the important places, where other folks seem to bolt pieces together...

They are pretty darn easy to deal with if you live in the PNW. Get on their schedule, and they'll send out a design/measurement crew to your boat. Two weeks later, you have a custom dodger installed when they return. Done.

(Not affiliated with them in any way, just a giant (fat) fan...)

__________________
Steve Ramsey - Puget Sound
S/V Manonash - '96 C36 mkII (#1586) - M35B

prestonrockstar
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I know I am years behind, but I am thinking about building a hard top dodger and my thoughts were remove the canvas completely and lay down and cut to shap a piece of ply wood for the top. Drill and attach it to the dodger frame. Then add a layer on top of that of that plastic cell sheet stuff, then fiberglass over the entire thing. Sand. Bondo it, sand it. Seal it. Paint it. Then you have a hard top that uses the existing dodger frame. If it's too heavy for the frame, add supports where needed, or build some wooden supports secured to the the side frame, fiberglass over them, bondo, sand, seal paint, and attach them to the boat. Basically exactly how Atticus did it, but using the existing Catalina dodger frame instead of building a frame from scratch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoNUowUE1uE

thoughts? no one has done this?

 

Daddio Rick
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I have been contemplating building a ahrd dodger as well and found this video quite helpful in terms of the process especially if one already has a frame to work with... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5wYICajlek&ab_channel=FreeRangeSailing

Indigo, 1995 MKII, Charleston SC, SR/WK

prestonrockstar
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I hadn't seen this one. Thanks for the link, will add to my library of brain ideas.

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Haro
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My Dodger has developed mold in some indented areas and missing stitches. A new dodger is in order.
I am looking for anyone who has ordered the Dodger from Catalina direct and what was the result of your experience. Did it fit properly, was it a good quality?
How do I confirm I have the factory installed frame?
Thanks for your feed back.
Haro. C36 1999 MKII

prestonrockstar
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I looked all over for a Catalina direct dodger. I don't see that as an option anywhere to buy.

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Chachere
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Prestonrockstart:
To your earlier question: 
There was a write-up of a hard dodger construction for a C36 MkI in "Jb-Sheet" back in December 2010, starting on page 12.
Here's a link to it:
www.catalina36.org/sites/default/files/legacy/JS-Dec10.pdf

As to your second point:  I would advocate you find a local boat canvas fabricator to do a soft dodger, rather than buy one that was "pre-fabbed."   
Mind you, I have given Catalina Direct a lot of business over the years, and will continue to do so, but there is just too many variables that need to be "dialed-in" for a decent dodger, rendering a one-size-fits-all dodger problematic (even if CD sells them).   

I say this from the perspective of having mucked around with virtually every system on our boat over the past decade, and thus at this point there are few boat jons where I would think about maybe hiring a pro, but when it comes to canvas I've shied away (in part, because I don't have a sewing machine, and in part because I probably lack the patience).   Last month the sail lofter we use came to the boat to do detailed measurements for a replacement for our existing dodger (which is no longer suitable for further repairing!), and I could see that this is a complex job to design well.  

 

Matthew Chachère
s/v ¡Que Chévere!
(Formerly 1985 C36 MKI #466 tall rig fin keel M25)
2006 Catalina Morgan 440 #30.
Homeported in eastern Long Island, NY

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Sojourn
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I totally agree with the preceding post.  I replaced mine a couple of years ago.  One feature you may want to think about is the forward window.  Most dogers have them as an opening part of the dodger with zippers on the sides and some manner of securing the bottom.  The question therefore is how to store the open window.  Removing it is not a good idea as it will lead to handling damage over time and not be readily available when it starts to rain.  The solution, we choose, is to have the bottom portion of the window have a zipper.  When down in place it zips to the fixed portion of the dodger.  When the window is open it attaches to a mating zipper portion on the inside of the top of the dodger.  The benefits are: it's readily availble to close when desired, the window itself is not rolled or folded and handling is at a minimum.   After a couple of seasons, it works like a champ.  I highly recommend this feature/solution.

Lou Bruska
Sojourn
1985 C36 MK1, Hull #495

 

Lou Bruska
Sojourn
1985 C-36 Mk-I TR #495
Eldean Shipyard
Lake Macatawa (Holland, MI) Lake Michigan
Rallyback@comcast.net

mmanchak
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Please let me know the name and location of the canvas shops that got you a price as low as $1800 plus. THANKS!!

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Peter Taylor
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For what it's worth, Hilario Martinez, who is the owner of Catalinainteriorandcanvas in California was responsible for manufacturing, the Catalina upholstery and canvas work for 35 years. He has the original pattern of my boat which was made in 2005. His work is outstanding.

Peter Taylor Melbourne Australia. Altair  #2227 2005 C36 Mk11

Lanealoha
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Posts: 76

Thanks to Peter's mention above I was able to contact Helario and get a new dodger canvas made.  He is in the process right now as we speak.  $2800 including window coverings,  which is at least a $1000 less than anyone else in the area and he had about a 2 week turnaround where others were in the months, at best, if I was lucky.....very pleasant to work with, and responsive to questions etc.  He even called me to ask if we wanted it set up to receive a bimini connection if we were to add one in the future, no additional charge.....I'll post pictures when I get down there in a few weeks 

David Lane
S/V Grace
88' Catalina 36'
Oxnard, Ca
 

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